Polar AXN 500 Altimeter/Heart Rate Watch - 2007 BCS

Great functionality and looks, assuming you're into the big, thick and heavy look. Two drawbacks with this watch:

1) The crystal really sits high and I'm constantly smacking it. Since it's crystal and cannot be buffed, once you get a large scratch, you're screwed. Pay an extra $10 and get one of peel and stick shields that are popular with cell phones.

2) I hope whoever designed the band is spending time in the joint with very lonely, large, overly friendly and extremely well endowed cellmate! The band is very comfortable and looks good, but starts to delaminate where it interfaces with the watch body. Insult to injury, Polar doesn't allow you to simply order a new one on-line; you either have to order via phone or snail-mail them a check.

The down-loadable workout feature is very cool.

This gizmo is easy and fun to use. After a few hours playing around with the controls with prior knowledge on barometers 101 it's easy to grasp the application and practical uses of this tool. And the best part, I've slowly and safely brought myself to a pretty good level of fitness and all in file for me or my physicians review (if needed). Great investment! --- over 2 years and still with me in all my activities indoors and outdoors.

Does everything well. It is BIG and I've been through 3 straps, but I have used it constantly for every kind of activity for 3 years. My only complaint is that the face glass is higher than the watch body, so it scratches very easily. It would be perfect if it had face protection and GPS.

The design and matte stainless finish are excellent including the strap. The altimeter is ok and varies +/- 75 ft depending on the weather. It's great to watch the effects of altitude on your heart while going from 9,000ft to 12,000ft including vertical ascending speed while climbing/hiking and descending speed while snowboarding. The compass works great and locks on the direction fast. The heart monitor doesn't skip a beat (hope not:) You can set a min/max heart rate for your workout to tell if you are truly pushing yourself. The included software works great to track fitness progress. The Wearlink transmitter is well designed and better than any other transmitter out there. I have also used the heart monitor to determine recovery rate after a hard workout.

Technically good, nice design, maybe a little bit too heavy in the beginning but one gets used quickly :-)

It would be even better if one could choose between lap or split time when setting markers but that's because I use it for running training (not the case of everybody).

I've had this watch about 2 months now and there is one thing for sure, you'll need a minor in cardiology and a major in meteorology to figure it all out.

Also, don't expect to get a wake up call from the thing ‘cause you won't ever hear it go off.

It does make for good conversation, however. You can always tell how high you are!

This is a cool watch, but be warned, the product image provided is deceiving; this thing, like the Lance watches, is like wearing a brick on your wrist.

So, if you like a big, honkin' watch - this is a beauty, but if you're looking for something a little more streamlined, look elsewhere.

I did a lot of research before buying this watch. Only multifunction watch that has a heart-rate monitor and is also "cool" enough to wear pretty much all of the time (as long as you don't mind wearing a big honkin' watch). I highly recommend getting an infrared USB dongle (if your computer doesn't have infrared port already) for your computer (see http://sewelldirect.com/usbtoirda.asp) so the watch can download the action files and other settings/files to your computer. When you do this, your workouts (aka action files) are saved on your computer for a VERY detailed analysis (more than you'll need, trust me), including cool graphs/plots. If you just want to upload settings from your computer to the watch, then you don't need the infrared on your computer (use the "audio" upload feature). Only major beef: the alarm is not loud at all!! Probably won't hear it if anything is going on in the room at all (e.g. in gym with music on).

First watch: Bad altimeter. Altitude and temp readings would peg at the limits within a minute of being on my wrist (Failed temperature compensation or something). First Replacement: Battery died within a month. I would have taken a new battery, but Polar insisted on replacing it (must be a problem they've identified). Second Replacement: Bunches of bad pixels. It’s not very usable. I’m sending it back. Third Replacement: Maybe a Suunto?? Lots of bad BS from the Polar US customer support guys, too. They were very condescending. Bottom Line: I'd stay away from this line of Polar products.

This is a great watch. I use it mainly for hiking and backpacking. The altimeter, barometer, compass, heart rate monitor, etc. all are easy to use.

Not for me. I am returning.